Eliana Moreno, a veteran aerial reporter known to Southern California viewers for her distinctive voice from the skies, tragically lost her life in a helicopter crash on Tuesday. The incident occurred in Chatsworth while covering a fatal traffic collision involving an SUV and a Metro bus. Alongside Moreno, pilot George Marciniw also perished, as did a third individual on the ground.
For over fifteen years, Moreno’s live reports from above had become a staple for audiences of NBC4 and Telemundo 52. Her bilingual reporting, delivered in both English and Spanish, earned her the affectionate nickname “Eli in the Heli.”
A Career in the Sky
A graduate of Chapman University with degrees in broadcast journalism and political science, Moreno began her career in aerial reporting in 2010. Since 2023, she regularly flew alongside Marciniw, forming a professional partnership that was well-known within their broadcasting circles.
The news of the crash sent ripples through the journalism community. NBC4 anchor Colleen Williams struggled to maintain composure on air as she confirmed the deaths of Moreno and Marciniw, referring to them as cherished colleagues and friends.
Roland Sprewell, a fellow aerial reporter, expressed heartfelt gratitude to Moreno for mentoring him in the art of airborne reporting and photography, underscoring the profound personal and professional impact she had on her peers.